The Art of Silence - 15 Ways To Bring Silence Into Your Life

How Mouna Transforms Our Inner and Outer Worlds

I’ve just returned from a Soul-Stirring week at the Ashram — a journey that was both intense and deeply rewarding.

The days were filled with Sacred Silence, deep study, nourishing food, reflection, karma yoga (selfless service), and a few joyful surprises (including one cheeky little veggie friend, which I’ll share with you later).

This time away wasn’t just a personal retreat. It was a time of spiritual deepening, where I completed both Meditation and Class Assessments, refining my practice as a student and a teacher. I return not only more centered, but filled with new practices and inspiration to share with you — in our group sessions, one-to-one work, and sound healing events.

However, one of the most profound aspects of the retreat was Mouna, the Sanskrit word for Silence, and not just the silence of the voice, but the silence of the mind.

Let’s explore what mouna means, why silence is so needed in our noisy world, and how you can invite it into your life — whether for 5 minutes, an hour, a day, or more.

🕊️ What is Mouna? The Meaning of Sacred Silence

In Sanskrit, Mouna (मौन) means silence — not just the absence of speech, but the quieting of mental chatter, emotional reactivity, and the constant need to fill space with noise.

Practicing Mouna invites us to tune into our Inner Silence, where clarity, stillness, and truth naturally arise. In yogic and spiritual traditions, mouna is more than discipline — it is a gateway to mindfulness and inner peace.

In silence, we listen not just to the outer world, but to ourselves:
The breath.
The body.
The beating of our hearts.
The whispers of our intuition that get drowned out in day-to-day life.

And in a world so full of distraction, that silence is revolutionary.

🧘🏽‍♀️ My Experience of Mouna at the Ashram

Each day at the ashram began in silence. Attended our Yoga Practice, Chanting, and Meditation without unnecessary words.

We entered the dining hall, quietly ate our meals in silence, and honored periods of mouna that lasted for hours, into 2 full days.

One of my karma yoga duties was working in the kitchen — chopping vegetables, preparing meals, and serving others with care and presence.

Karma Yoga means "The Yoga of Action" or Selfless Service — doing something without expecting anything in return, offering it with love and mindfulness.

I became incredibly aware of what I was doing without the usual conversation and chit-chat.

The colours of the peppers.
The earthy scent of the potatoes.
The steam rising from freshly cooked rice.
Even the smallest task became a meditation.

And then, there was the joyful little veggie who appeared as I was chopping — shaped with the cheekiest little face! I placed him silently on the table for the others to see.

Nobody said a word, but everyone smiled. It was a beautiful reminder that presence and connection don’t always need words

🌸 Why Practice Silence? The Benefits of Mouna

Silence allows space for self-reflection, healing, and clarity. Here are just a few of the many benefits I’ve felt — and that are supported by ancient wisdom and modern mindfulness:

1. Sharper Awareness

Without constant external stimulation, your senses come alive. You notice beauty in the ordinary — the rustle of leaves, the warmth of a cup of tea, the curve of a cloud.

2. Mental Clarity

Silence gives your mind a break from overthinking. You begin to observe your thoughts rather than react to them.

3. Emotional Regulation

Silence helps regulate the nervous system. You become less reactive and more responsive — even in challenging moments.

4. Deeper Intuition

When the noise quiets down, your inner voice becomes stronger. You make decisions from a grounded, soul-led place.

5. Connection to Self and Spirit

Whether it’s prayer, meditation, or simply sitting in stillness, silence opens the door to divine connection — a remembering of who you are beyond your roles or to-do list.

☕ How to Practice Mouna in Daily Life

You don’t need to be in an Ashram to practice Silence. You can begin right now, wherever you are.

Here are 5 Simple ways to explore Silence in your own life:

🔹 Start with 5 Minutes
Before you reach for your phone in the morning, sit in stillness. Breathe. Observe your thoughts. Listen to the world waking up.

🔹 Silent Tea or Meal
Have a cup of tea or eat a meal in complete silence. Pay attention to every sip or bite — the taste, texture, aroma, and gratitude for where your food came from.

🔹 Silent Walk in Nature
Leave your headphones and phone behind. Walk slowly, and allow yourself to receive the birdsong, wind, sunlight, and natural rhythms.

🔹 Create a Silent Morning or Evening
Once a week, take a few hours to be screen-free and conversation-free. Light a candle, read a soulful book, stretch, or just be.

🔹 Join a Silent Retreat or Day of Stillness
Look out for upcoming offerings where we can sit in shared silence together — a powerful way to reconnect, reflect, and reset.

🌿 Bringing Mindfulness into the Everyday

Silence and Mindfulness go hand in hand. The more we slow down, the more we see what is already here.

Here are 5 ways to be more mindful each day:

💫 Pause before speaking – Ask: Is it kind? Is it necessary? Is it true?
💫 Single-task – Do one thing at a time, with your full attention.
💫 Gratitude journaling – Write 3 things you’re grateful for each evening.
💫 Use your senses – Choose one sense (e.g., hearing or touch) and focus on it fully during a daily task.
💫 Mindful rituals – Light a candle before your practice. Cleanse your space with intention. Create beauty around you.

✨ The Ripple Effect of Silence

As I return home from the Ashram, the quietude of Mouna still lingers within me. It’s more than a memory — it’s a shift.

The stillness I cultivated during those silent hours now echoes through my days: in the way I listen, in how I hold space for others, in how I move through life with more ease and less urgency.

This is the ripple effect of silence.
✨When we choose to pause, the world doesn’t stop — but our relationship to it changes.
✨We respond instead of react.
✨We notice joy in small things.
✨We speak with more kindness and intention.
✨We hold space for others more deeply because we’ve learned to sit with ourselves.

You don’t have to go on retreat to experience this. Mouna can begin with five quiet breaths. A walk without distraction. A moment of stillness before sleep. These pockets of silence reconnect us to our essence — and remind us that peace is always available, underneath the noise.

So, whether it’s five minutes in the morning or a full day of sacred stillness, may you give yourself the gift of silence.

Let it hold you. Let it soften you. Let it guide you back to the quiet knowing that lives within.

And if you feel called to deepen your practice, I’m here with Classes, Retreats, Sound Meditation Journeys, meditations, and one-to-one support.

Together, we can explore the transformative power of Inner Silence and how it can help you move through life with more Presence, Purpose, and Peace.

With love and silence, Clare 🌿🕊️